Kristin Kuchno

How Novant is meeting a ‘pivotal moment’ through tuition aid

09/02/2025

Novant Health is supporting career advancement for its workforce by addressing one of the most significant barriers: the cost of education. The Winston-Salem, N.C.-based health system on Aug. 18 launched Novant Health Future Forward, a debt-free education initiative. Through the program, the system covers up to $5,250 in annual prepaid…

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Patient safety is a health system’s smartest investment

09/02/2025

“First, do no harm” may be the most well-known adage in the medical profession, but it’s far more than an admonishment. Preventing harm by investing in patient safety is a smart business strategy that returns incalculable direct and indirect financial benefits. I’ve recently heard accounts of large health systems shrinking…

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Trump demands COVID ‘drug’ data from pharmaceutical companies

09/02/2025

President Donald Trump demanded that pharmaceutical companies release data for “success rates” of their COVID-19 medications to clear up what he called a “discrepancy mess.”  In a Sept. 1 Truth Social post, President Trump said he had been shown “extraordinary” results from Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies that had not…

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20% of med students face food insecurity: Study 

09/02/2025

More than 1 in 5 medical students in the U.S. experience food insecurity, pointing to the need for institution and policy-level interventions to support basic student needs, according to a new study led by researchers at New Haven, Conn.-based Yale University School of Medicine.  The study was published Aug. 29…

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GLP-1s reduce heart failure death, hospitalization: 3 things to know

09/02/2025

Both semaglutide and tirzepatide were shown to “significantly reduce” the risk of hospitalization and all-cause mortality for heart failure patients, according to a study published Aug. 31 in JAMA.  Researchers from Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham analyzed U.S. insurance claim data to emulate two previous semaglutide and tirzepatide trials at…

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ACIP to review COVID, MMR and RSV vaccines

09/02/2025

In mid-September, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will discuss — and potentially vote on — vaccines for COVID-19, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and respiratory syncytial virus.  According to an ACIP agenda posted Aug. 29, the meeting will also provide updates on the committee’s working groups. In…

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52 nursing programs opening, expanding, ending in 2025

09/02/2025

Here are nursing programs that are opening, expanding and ending in 2025. Note: This list is periodically updated throughout the year. Macon, Ga.-based Mercer University is expanding its nursing program to its Macon campus, with an inaugural class of 26 students. Knoxville-based UT Medical Center expanded its longstanding partnership with…

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AI at CommonSpirit: 230 tools, $100M impact

09/02/2025

With 230 AI applications live across its hospitals, Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health is setting a benchmark for thoughtful AI adoption in healthcare, CIO Daniel Barchi told Becker’s. “Two years ago, we had about 160 applications. Now we have about 230 AI applications that are live. We’re probably generating north of $100…

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Where AI can make the biggest impact for nurses 

09/02/2025

Artificial intelligence in nursing is often framed as a way to cut paperwork. But nurse informatics leaders told Becker’s its potential goes beyond that, reshaping nurses’ role, strengthening patient safety and providing real-time insights that improve care. Many did say the most immediate opportunity lies in easing the documentation burden.…

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The state where all hospitals have perfect health equity scores

09/02/2025

Delaware is the only state where 100% of its hospitals scored perfectly on health equity measures, according to CMS data. The agency used hospital commitment to health equity data, such as social determinants of health data, race, ethnicity, language, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation and disability status to determine access…

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Stroke care may shift with Mount Sinai AI model

09/02/2025

New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System has developed an artificial intelligence model that helps determine which atrial fibrillation patients benefit from blood thinners to prevent stroke.  The model was trained on EHRs from 1.8 million patients across 21 million visits, 82 million notes and 1.2 billion data points, according…

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Mayo Clinic AI model predicts ALS

09/02/2025

Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic researchers have developed an artificial intelligence model that can predict amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and anticipate patient survival using data from F-wave nerve conduction studies. The model was trained on F-wave responses from 46,802 patients, including 5,329 with motor neuron disease in the training set, according to…

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Cleveland Clinic, IBM open next phase of quantum health innovation program

09/02/2025

Cleveland Clinic is opening applications for the second round of its Quantum Innovation Catalyzer Program, an initiative designed to help startups test how quantum computing could be used in healthcare and life sciences. Here are five things to know about the program: Launched in 2023, the program offers selected early-…

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AMA split on RFK Jr.

09/02/2025

The American Medical Association is weighing whether to work with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., or oppose policies that threaten public health, Politico reported Aug. 30.  Since Mr. Kennedy was confirmed to lead HHS in February, he has fired and replaced all members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization…

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15 best, worst cities to retire

09/02/2025

Orlando, Fla., is the best place to retire, largely due to its lack of income, estate or inheritance taxes and its availability of recreational activities, according to a Sept. 2 report from WalletHub. The list of best and worst places to retire was determined by comparing 182 U.S. cities —…

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Translating Performance Excellence Improves Brand Recognition

09/02/2025

Healthcare leaders tend to be very internally focused and for all the right reasons. But even when we’re doing very well performance-wise—with all the right metrics moving in the right direction—we can forget to leverage these results externally to build a strong brand. While it’s great to celebrate your successes internally,…

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Thriving Through Financial Pressure by Unlocking Hidden Margins

09/01/2025

How AI Digital Twins are Revolutionizing Capital Planning for Health Systems Health systems continually balance delivering exceptional patient care, maintaining cutting-edge equipment and ensuring financial solvency. While traditional avenues like revenue cycle management and supply chain optimization are common paths for margin recoupment, the strategic management of healthcare technology equipment…

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Managing Back-to-School Respiratory Infections

09/01/2025

Managing Back-to-School Respiratory Infections In late summer, tens of millions of children throughout the United States return to school, sharing tales of their summer adventures and, inevitably, new germs. Many will develop a cough, sore throat, or runny nose in the coming weeks, as part of a well-documented “summer wave”…

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MetroHealth to push insurance sign-ups to curb $1M daily charity care costs

08/29/2025

Cleveland-based MetroHealth plans to launch an initiative to help patients enroll in Medicare, Medicaid and ACA’s marketplace insurance to reduce its soaring charity care costs that now exceed $1 million per day, a spokesperson for the health system confirmed to Becker’s.  That figure puts MetroHealth — Cuyahoga County’s safety-net hospital…

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